Using a simple white board and a black marker, Los Angeles Daily News photographer Hans Gutknecht asked more than 50 people struggling with homelessness and poverty across Los Angeles County to write a personal message or answer this question: “If you could say something about yourself to anybody, what would it be?”

Aylse Heggen, Sign: “I do not drink. I don’t do do drugs. I haven’t eaten meat for 41 years. I am non-violent. I am a peacemaker. I have an I.Q. of 142. I worked all my life until I became too ill. Please don’t judge me” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Deborah Land, Sign: “The bad decisions I’ve made in my life has led me to be homeless. My heart cries out everyday for some way to change. Where do I begin? Different agencies have come to take my info down. Although I’ve yet to a response or just point the way” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Kim Korogi Sign: “God was homeless too! We’re not all bad. Just give us a chance to show you that we to can have a life. So next time you want to put a judgment on me I would think W.W.J.D. What would Jesus do” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Roman Friday Sign: “Im a artist, but since I been on the streets, I have been destroy’n everything sight with vandalism. I am your eyesore. Help me create righteous..” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Phil Herrera and dog Trixie Sign: “In all of nature there is not such thing as staying the same you are either striving to make yourself better or allowing yourself to get worse.” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Alton Locklear Sign: “I love God and I hope you know he love you to and I love all of you to out in there, I’m homeless but not hopeless. Have hope and believe” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Daniel Gilbert Sign: “Peace and love to all those back in Philadelphia, PA” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Arthur “Tarzan” Taraiveo Sign: “We all end up in the same hole” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Tykisha Warren Sign: “All I want is to be with family. My circumstances has made it difficult for me to there for my children. I wish there could be a better solution for me to at least to have a start” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Andre Broadway Sign: “Homeless is hard for the girls and us vets. Please be someone that cares. Help us now not later we need you to give a hand to the people you see” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Bonita Koonce Sign: “Im a single mom, christian and have always made lots of effort to be a help to others. I’ve worked consistently for all of my life and got laid off and have had a difficult time finding work” (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)